Wipes Clog Pipes
Please think twice, and don’t flush those wipes!
(Warning: graphic images of sewer clogs)
While many in the media continue to focus on empty shelves of toilet paper, paper towels, baby and disinfecting wipes, wastewater professionals worry about possible sewer spills. People sometimes use disinfectant wipes and paper towels to clean surfaces. “Flushable” wet wipes have gained in popularity with the lack of toilet paper and due to sophisticated marketing tactics. These wipes can clog up sewer pipes and cause sewer system pump stations to block and shut down, causing large sewer spills into our community. Sanitary operators are already working longer hours due to the coronavirus crisis now have the additional burden of finding these blockages before they can cause damage. While toilet paper dissolves readily, wipes and paper towels take much longer to dissolve if ever.
It is a problem wastewater agencies have been taking on for well over 15 years. Cities and agencies have launched educational campaigns such as “What 2Flush,” “Wipes Clog Pipes,” “The Toilet is Not a Trashcan,” and others. However, misleading labeling on wipes has caused widespread confusion among consumers. One Facebook commenter recently wrote on an agency post about wipes, “But the packaging says you can flush it!”
Cities and States across the country have tried both successfully and unsuccessfully to change the laws to require truth in adverting and labeling. Still, when they have managed to enact legislation over manufacturers' objections, they have been sued by paper product manufacturers for freedom of speech infringements. In Europe, “flushable” wipes opponents have been more successful in forcing changes.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) sent out a press release encouraging all Americans only to flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash. The statement explained that by flushing only toilet paper, the public helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems, and septic systems will continue working correctly to manage our nation’s wastewater safely. While E.P.A. encourages disinfecting your environment to prevent the spread of COVID-19, never flush disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items. The press release states, “These easy steps will keep surfaces disinfected, and wastewater management systems working for all Americans.”
“Preventable toilet and sewer backups can pose a threat to human health and present an extra challenge to our water utilities and their workforce. Flushing anything other than toilet paper, including disinfecting wipes, can damage internal plumbing, local sewer systems and septic systems. Fixing these backups is costly and takes time and resources away from ensuring that wastewater management systems are otherwise working properly. E.P.A. thanks wastewater utilities and their workforce for their courageous efforts at a time when resources may be stretched thin. Having fully operational wastewater services is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Americans from other public health risks. Our nation’s wastewater employees are everyday heroes who are on the frontline of protecting human health and the environment every single day.” — U.S Environmental Protection Agency
The message is simple; the toilet is only meant to flush the three P’ s — pee, poop, and paper. Human waste and toilet paper should be the only thing going down the toilet. Unfortunately, over the years, people have turned the toilet into a trash can. Flushing these types of items down the toilet causes home pipes to clog and can have a significant impact on our sewers and not to mention our ocean.
For more information visit scwd.org.
